The European Parliament approved the granting of a visa-free regime for short-term trips to the citizens of Ukraine and Georgia, RIA Novosti reported.

Thus, the Parliament approved at the session of the Strasbourg Assembly the completion of the legislative process for the recall of visas to both countries.

Now the decision shall be approved by the EU Council. According to the source of the agency at the European Commission, the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Migration and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said he expects the enforcement of the visa-free regime in the early spring of 2017.

The European Parliament has already established a mechanism for the agreement. For example, it provides for the withdrawal of the regime in the case there were large numbers of citizens of Georgia and Ukraine in Europe, refusing to return to their homeland.

In addition, the European institutions agreed on a mechanism for the suspension of visa-free travel to third countries in case of an uncontrolled influx of refugees and migrants.

Earlier in November, the European Parliament has demanded to suspend negotiations with Turkey on the membership of the country in the European Union. Deputies adopted the relevant resolution considering the situation in the country after the attempted military coup d’etat and mass arrests that followed thereafter.

Material was prepared by the Centre of geopolitical studies referring to the article from “Новая газета”of 15 12 2016

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